A gas tanker was spotted near the sanctioned Russian Arctic LNG 2

The Iris gas tanker, which indicates the destination port of Sabetta, is likely heading to the Russian “Arctic LNG 2”, which is subject to US sanctions.

The Russian “Arctic LNG 2” has been idle for eight months, writes Bloomberg.

According to ship tracking data, the gas tanker Iris (previously named North Sky) will arrive at the “Arctic LNG 2” facility later on Thursday, June 26. The vessel has also been subject to US sanctions since last year.

In particular, Iris indicates that its next destination is the port of Sabetta, where a separate “Yamal LNG” plant is located, which is not subject to sanctions. However, the vessel had already passed this facility earlier in the day.

“There is no guarantee that the tanker will still dock at the “Arctic LNG 2” or load fuel. Iris has a lower ice class, which means it can sail Arctic seas on its way to Asia, but only when ice conditions allow it to do so in the summer,” the article says.

According to satellite images, the waters around the Utrenny terminal, which serves the Arctic LNG 2, are still covered in ice. However, earlier this week, the captain of the port of Sabetta allowed the Arc4 tankers to pass in the area of ​​the Utrenny terminal without the help of icebreakers.

As a reminder, the Arctic LNG 2 loaded eight batches onto vessels of the so-called “shadow fleet” last summer, but ultimately failed to find customers due to Western restrictions.